This countdown simply identifies the weekend's best bets for catches, total yards, touchdowns and receiving targets—a stat that must always factor into lineup strategies with receivers, tight ends and running backs.

NOTE: The Jets, Rams, Patriots and 49ers are all on byes.

When it comes to crafting a weekly listing of elite wide receivers, simply follow the trail of quarterbacks primed for Week 9 glory...or the wideouts with great track records against middling pass defenses.

1. In his last six outdoors games on grass (dating back to last season), Calvin Johnson boasts stellar averages of 7.8 catches, 148 yards and 0.67 touchdowns. Of equal importance, he collected double-digit targets each time.

2. I may not love Percy Harvin's matchup against the Seahawks, but I am encouraged by the following trend: For the season, he has developed a pattern of one game of single-digit targets...then two games of double-digit targets. Within that sturdy rationale, Harvin is apparently due for seven catches, 11 targets, 97 yards and maybe a touchdown.

3. On paper, Vincent Jackson (29 catches, 626 yards, five TD) has a sweet matchup with the Raiders. But of his last seven encounters with Oakland (when playing with San Diego), he only crossed the 60-yard threshold once. He also had five games of 32 yards or less. Ugh.

4. Worried about A.J. Green's fantasy viability after his one-catch, eight-yard clunker against the Steelers? Well, don't be. Green currently has a streak of at least one TD in six straight games...and in only his second pro start last year, he busted the Broncos for 10 catches, 124 yards and one touchdown.

5. Check this out: In the Falcons' odd-numbered games this season (1, 3, 5, 7—all on the road), Julio Jones easily trumped teammate Roddy White in the fantasy realm. But for the even-numbered games (2, 4, 6—all at home)...the reverse holds true.